Representing clients in high-profile, and often international, fraud cases is at the core of the workload of ABV Solicitors' ‘extremely talented’ fraud and complex crime team in Hayes, which is jointly led by Deepak Vij, Akhtar Ahmad and serious crime expert Robert Borwick. Vij heads up the financial crime team, and is known to be ‘highly experienced in white-collar crime’, while Ahmad’s ‘wealth of experience’ extends to working with clients that have been investigated by foreign law enforcement agencies. Amirah Ajaz ‘tackles matters of complexity with ease’, with her practice focusing on complex fraud and confiscation cases, as well as organised crime. Fergus Harrington, ‘a star in the making’, is recommended for white-collar, business and money laundering crime issues.

Blackfords LLP‘s criminal defence and financial crime department fields one of the leading criminal teams in the UK, and covers the whole spectrum of criminal work. With a growing specialism in defending professional clients and company directors who are subject to criminal prosecutions, the department’s workload includes handling gangland killings, complex financial crime cases, and HMRC prosecutions. With a track record in handling high-profile national and international fraud cases, Gary Bloxsome ‘knows the market inside out’ and co-heads the firm’s financial crime team. Trevor Francis is the firm's managing partner and specialises in serious crime work, including complex fraud and money laundering cases. Diana Payne heads up the general crime team and is a renowned Youth Court expert, while Daniel Cundy focuses on white-collar mandates and Hannah Giles leads the criminal defence team in the Woking office. Lucinda Shand is also active in the practice.

IBB Law‘s criminal defence practice is backed up by the firm’s commercial department, enabling the solicitors to offer seamless advice in complex business and financial crime work, from issues at the police station to the Court of Appeal. The team is led by Joanne Gibbons, Eddie Tang and John Milner in Uxbridge. Gibbons specialises in representing youths, while Tang is reputed for his ‘longstanding experience’ in serious and complex cases involving murder, kidnapping, blackmail, and large-scale drug crimes, and Milner is praised by clients as ‘one of the very best white-collar solicitors out there’. Anna Ford has joined Bindmans LLP.

Reeds Solicitors‘ private crime department is headed up by Stuart Matthews, and deals with a large range of complex privately and publicly funded crime matters, including complex fraud and money laundering, sexual offence, conspiracy and murder charges. The ‘highly experienced’ Matthews is well regarded for his track record in successfully handling serious criminal charges for his clients. The firm’s complex crime team is led by Julian Richards, who is ‘one of the stars of his generation’ and is recommended for his advice on large-scale drugs, money laundering and white-collar crime matters. Scott Primmer has specialist expertise in handling sexual offenses, often defending clients at magistrates and crown courts.

Sternberg Reed LLP‘s Romford-based crime team has repositioned itself from handling volume legal aid work to focusing on private instructions and high-cost and complex legal aid cases. Co-head and ‘stand-out individual’ Richard Cooper is qualified as a higher court advocate, while fellow co-head Ben Thomas is described as ‘one of the best defence solicitors in practice today’ and offers expert advice on a range of serious offenses, including fraud, murder, hijacking, and drug trafficking charges. Another key contact is ‘exceptional lawyer’ Rhiannon Cole, who offers niche expertise in prison and extradition law.

Clarke Kiernan LLP Solicitors is a boutique law firm, which offers high-quality advice on an array of criminal offenses, including fraud and prison law. A standout feature of the team is its expertise in modern slavery, people trafficking and people smuggling cases, as well as marine salvage law. Catherine McCarthy heads up the firm's crime department and has more than 25 years of experience in handling general crime and prison law matters. Solicitor advocate Daniel Bonich leads the fraud, regulatory and complex crime group, and specialises in money laundering, fraud, drug trafficking and complex confiscation mandates. White-collar crime expert Dennis Clarke is another key contact.

With offices in Southend, Braintree and Benfleet, Jerman Samuels & Pearson LLP is especially recommended for expert advice on murder and manslaughter cases. The firm is led by Mark Jerman in Benfleet and ‘strategist and fine tactician’ Simon Samuels in Southend, with Jerman having a track record in handling complex murder, fraud and other violent cases, and Samuels’s practice extending to high-value frauds and organised major drug cases. Ian Clift in Braintree heads up the crown court and complex crime department, and is well versed in handling charges related to violent offences. Matthew Bone left the practice after being appointed as district judge in January 2023.

Lawtons Solicitors is equipped to handle privately funded work from the police station stage through to the Court of Appeal, as well as high-value and complex legal aid matters, including fraud, drug, serious sexual offences and murder cases. Described as ‘a class apart’, Stephen Halloran leads the department along with Nick Titchener, who is experienced in handling offenses investigated and prosecuted by the Serious Organised Crime Agency and Complex Crime Unit at the Crown Prosecution Service.

SVS Solicitors is a ‘first-rate’ boutique firm, based in Chalfont St Peter, that offers high-quality advice on a range of criminal matters. Managing director Sasha Sidhu has vast experience in criminal defence work relating to complex and serious criminal offenses, including murder, extradition, conspiracy and fraud. Supervising solicitor Rob Johnson is an expert in white-collar crime matters, while supervising solicitor Shenel Johnson is recommended for her advice to clients in police investigations and advocacy in magistrates courts. James Ojukwu leads the magistrates court department and is an experienced duty solicitor, while Anna Hogg is well versed in dealing with a range of serious offenses as head of the firm’s the crown court department.

‘Stand-out partner’ Hardeep Dhaliwal leads Duncan Lewis Solicitors‘ crime department, with offices across Harrow, Luton and Milton Keynes. The team is experienced in handling serious and complex matters, such as gang-related crime, murder and high-value fraud charges, and is especially recommended for its proceeds of crime and fraud unit, which specialises in high-value confiscation proceedings. Further key contacts are ‘go-to lawyer for financial crime’ Simon Connolly, Linda Barker and Olivia Amy Rose. Rubin Italia departed to Stokoe Partnership Solicitors in August 2022, and Nicholas De Freitas joined the Crown Prosecution Service in April 2023.

With capacity to deal with the full range of criminal offenses, GT Stewart Limited is especially well versed in youth crime defence work and offers expert knowledge in modern slavery matters. Will Russell heads up the private client department, and his practice extends to matters involving murder, sexual offences and road traffic offence charges. Defending young and vulnerable clients, Mel Stooks heads up the firm’s specialised youth crime team, while director Greg Stewart is especially strong in youth court and appeal work, with experience before the crown court. Melanie Krudy is also recommended for her general crime advocacy in a range of courts. Further key contacts are head of the crown court advocacy department Ronnie Manek, and Jack Stewart, who leads the firm’s East Kent offices.

With five offices across Essex and Suffolk, Levy & Co Solicitors specialises in criminal defence work, acting for legally aided and privately funded clients, with specialist knowledge of military law. The department is headed up by ‘outstanding leader’ Steven Levy, Evelyn Hicks and Paula Fell. Hicks is experienced in representing clients in the magistrates and crown court, while Fell is especially well versed in prison law. Michael Rees advises on murder, manslaughter, armed robbery and drug charges.

With a strong focus on road traffic offenses, B P Collins LLP’s ‘thoroughly recommended‘ crime practice is located in Gerrards Cross, and jointly led by James Constable and Jonothan Moss, who is especially well versed in road traffic and regulatory law. Constable has niche knowledge in prosecutions brought by the Environment Agency, while Olivia Duncan is recommended for advice on a range of criminal matters, including domestic abuse cases.

Tej Praful Thakkar has led Birkett Long LLP‘s regulatory department since 2021, and clients note that the group has gone ‘from strength to strength’. The team specialises in regulatory work that involves criminal liability and sanctions issues, and has further strengthened its general crime offering with the hire of Zoe Hoskings from Hodge Jones & Allen in December 2022, who as a strong background in legal aid work before the magistrates and youth courts.

Praised by clients for ‘offering an outstanding service’, Blaser Mills Law in High Wycombe offers advice on the full spectrum of general crime. The department is led by Ben Langley, who is an expert in mandates stemming from the whole range of road traffic offenses.

With offices in London and Brighton, Gerard Maye Legal‘s criminal defence department focuses on complex, private criminal work. Gerard Maye, who is praised as ‘a force to be reckoned with’, is equipped to handle the whole array of criminal matters, including complex sexual offenses.

Praised by clients for its ‘high levels of skill, empathy and professionalism’, Old Bailey Solicitors' ‘superb team’ specialises in advising first time offenders. Group head Rod Hayler has notable experience as a trial advocate, while director Camilla Rents is recognised for handling serious sexual, drug and money laundering offenses.

Wells Burcombe LLP stands out for offering expert advice on criminal appeals, CCRC applications and prison law mandates. The team is jointly steered by David Wells, Alan Burcombe and Ravinder Khumra. Wells and Burcombe, who is described as ‘clever, experienced, and compassionate’, are key contacts for appeals, while ‘exceptional talent’ Khumra is well regarded for her expertise in white-collar and business crime matters, alongside other serious crime offenses.